Buying Guide to Northern Virginia Real Estate

This Guide to Real Estate in Northern Virginia is managed by Nesbitt Realty, a family brokerage.

Our Guide to Northern Virginia Real Estate is designed to help you learn about the many communities and neighborhoods that make up this area.

Use the Guide to understand more about Northern VA or to discover communities and homes that you never knew existed. If you need any help with a specific search please don’t hesitate to call us at (703)765-3000.

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For real estate in Northern Virginia, contact Nesbitt Realty

Guide to Northern Virginia Homes and Condos for Sale

Northern Virginia has neighborhoods and homes to suit and any budget and to fill any need. But finding a home in a bustling area of over 2 million homes can be a bit overwhelming. Nesbitt Realty provides this Guide to help you find real estate, fine home or condominium that most suits your tastes and budget.

Every home and condo for sale in Northern Virginia is found somewhere here in this Guide to Northern Virginia real estate. But newcomers and long-term residents alike can find the sheer numbers of choices available a bit overwhelming at first. To make your home search a little less daunting, we've taken the time to group homes in logical places and communities to help you find what you're looking for.

Not every square inch of Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church or Mclean is "city." In fact, there are great swaths of these areas that feel very suburban. For our purposes what we're calling "city" is mostly just inside the Beltway. Homes inside the Beltway are closer to DC, have access to public transportation and are close to employment and cultural centers of the National Capital Region.

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Arlington is home to some of the priciest real estate in Northern Virginia. The prices are driven by the desire to be near the Metro; near culture and activities; and a generally pleasant atmosphere. Alexandria is generally more affordable than Arlington and a little further from Washington DC. Alexandria has no shortage of culture or attractions. Alexandria's waterfront community at Old Town and the neighborhood of Del Ray are two of the most sought-after communities in Northern Virginia.

Like Alexandria, Falls Church is a historic settlement dating to the colonial days. Falls Church is like Alexandria and Arlington in that these communities pockets of upscale residential single-family suburban style homes as well as high-rise communities. Some high-rise condos are luxurious with matching price tages. Others are more pedestrian offering affordable housing close to the city center. In general, high-rises are found near metro stations or transportation hubs. West End Alexandria also has many high-rises between I-395 and I-495.

Inside the Beltway, Mclean is largely stately homes on good lots. The public schools throughout Fairfax County are excellent, but they are especially so in Mclean.

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Alexandria is located on the banks of the Potomac River close to Washington DC and Suburban Maryland. The City of Alexandria dates back to the colonial era and many of the neighborhoods of Alexandria reflect that heritage.

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Both Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon have historic links to George Washington and other prominent historical figures.
Beyond Old Town, Alexandria is also home for newer and relatively new neighborhoods like the Carlyle District and Cameron Station or Kingstowne.

Alexandria is home to numerous non-profits and trade associations as well as the Mark Center. Many Alexandrians work in nearby Washington DC, the Pentagon, Andrews AFB or Fort Belvoir. Commuters from Alexandria are served by the Yellow and Blue Metro Lines. Alexandrians have easy access to the Beltway, I-395 and both Rt. 1 and the GW Parkway.

Homes in Alexandria range from shiny new condos, to historic homes and waterfront mansions. From urban to suburban from luxury homes to budget homes, you can find it here in Alexandria VA.

Arlington is an urban county of about 26 square miles located directly across the Potomac River from Washington DC. Arlington is nationally known for the serenity of Arlington National Cemetery, but is locally known as a center of urban living in Northern Virginia.

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Arlington's central location in the Washington DC metropolitan area, its ease of access by car and public transportation, and its highly skilled labor force have attracted an increasingly varied residential and commercial mix. Arlington's planners have focused on a smart design which focuses neighborhoods with the highest density along the Orange Line of the Metro. Some of Arlington's most upscale high-rises and sought after addresses are within a block or two of a Metro station.

But as you work away from the metro, high-rises give way to townhomes and then older neighborhoods like Lyon Park feature stately older single family residences on tree-lined streets.

Arlington has a number of prominent urban villages such as Rosslyn and Crystal City on the metro and Shirlington just off I-395. Arlington County is home to the Pentagon, Fort Myer and lies in very close proximity to numerous employment centers.

Falls Church is one of the oldest settlements in Northern Virginia. Falls Church was incorporated as a Fairfax County town in 1875. In 1948, Falls Church became an independent city outside of Fairfax County.

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The city's corporate boundaries do not include all of the area historically known as Falls Church; these areas include portions of Seven Corners, the Skyline area and other portions of the current Falls Church postal districts of Fairfax County, as well as the area of Arlington County known as East Falls Church. To differentiate that part of Falls Church which is independent from Fairfax County, Falls Church is sometimes called Falls Church City or the City of Falls Church. There are an interesting mixture of homes in and around Falls Church with both some of the areas most prestigious neighborhoods and most affordable homes and condos.

Falls Church has easy access to both the East Falls Church and West Falls Church Metro stations. It's location at the heart of the region means that residents can find employment in Tysons Corner, Bethesda Maryland, Arlington, Washington or Alexandria. In addition to homes in the City of Falls Church our Guide features homes and condos with a Falls Church postal address that are not actually the City of Falls Church.

Mclean is an unincorporated area in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. McLean is home to many diplomats, members of Congress and high-ranking federal government officials, entrepreneurs and service businesses partially attributable to the close location to Washington, D.C. and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Belle Haven is one of many communities we feature in Fairfax County VA.

Fairfax County is one of the largest counties in Virginia and one of the most prosperous counties in the nation. Much of the Capital Beltway lies in Fairfax County, but most of Fairfax County is just outside the Beltway. Fairfax County ranges widely in price, density and accessibility.

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Fairfax County surrounds the City of Fairfax and borders Alexandria, Arlington and Falls Church. Fairfax County ranges from urban to suburban, with homes to suit almost every taste and budget. Because Fairfax County is so large our Guide arbitrarily divides Fairfax County into three parts:

Prince William County lies west of Fairfax County and is home to many folks who work in Northern Virginia and Washington DC. Manassas and Woodbridge are favored by those who prefer a suburban life-style, larger home and don't mind a little longer commute. Commuters in Northern Prince William County often use I-66, while commuters in Southern Prince William County often use I-95.

Mom and dad were never happy to see Aubrey leave for duty but we were proud to see him serve.

Nesbitt Realty’s clients have ranked from E-4 to O-9 and most every rank in between. Many of our agents have served in or been closely involved in the military lifestyle. Contact us if you’re relocating to any of the following installations:

Northern Virginia

Homes for sale in Northern VA

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Hover over any real estate peg to learn more information about the property. Click on a property to see full real estate details, more pictures and information. Call 703 765 0300 if you have questions about this or any real estate for sale in Northern Virginia.

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Updated Posts!

The Pentagon is the location of the home of the Department of Defense. There are roughly 23,000 military and civilian employees, as well as an additional 3,000 non defense support personnel. There is a metro station on the Blue and Yellow … [Read More...]

Does the idea of a rentals in Old Town Alexandria for less than $25 sound too good to be true? We got a list of homes for rent ranging from $8 to $25 per month. As you might expect there is a small catch . . .
The homes were offered for rent by … [Read More...]

The Watergate of Alexandria offers townhouse living in the North End of Alexandria's Old Town. Watergate residences are two and three-story luxury residences which fit well with the character of Old Town.
Association fees cover include the … [Read More...]